Shhhhh...quiet now.........

If my MOJO has come out to play again, I don't want to frighten it. Best to keep it down, I think.

Today's card is for MOJO Monday (yes, the current one) and my upcoming manly man card class on May 10th.

You'll notice some retiring product on there (it was still available at time of typing). I won't miss the buttons so much (it took me nearly two years to use them!), but I'm going to miss that ribbon! I think this is roll number 3 or 4. If you're going to miss it too, today is the very last day for FREE shipping on everything, so be sure to submit your order! Use hostess code: 6SDWJQYW for a chance to win some freebies!

I started off with a Baked Brown Sugar base and added a layer of Early Espresso Cardstock. The Designer Series Paper is from Soho Subway (also retiring!). My image is from the Open Sea (not retiring!) and is stamped in Baked Brown Sugar on Very Vanilla. I discovered that one of the Circle Framelits is *just* the right size to fit inside the 2 ½" circle punch, making a perfect mat.

I tied my button up with some linen thread - acceptable in a "man class" since it's not ribbon - LOL! And don't worry...since you're coming to class, I'll be tying the buttons for you. :)

What do you think?

STAMPS: The Open Sea
INK: Baked Brown Sugar
PAPERS: Very Vanilla, Baked Brown Sugar and Early Espresso Cardstock; Soho Subway DSP
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Circle Framelits, Punch, Ribbon, Button, Linen Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

The Open Sea for the Stampin' Queens

Father's Day will be here before you know it and this set is just the ticket to make the perfect card!

Here's the Stampin' Queens Sketch for this week:

As usual, I took a few liberties - LOL! In fact, I think I was influenced by the MOJO Monday Sketch and the card I created here...which really, is a little weird since I created the Stampin' Queens Card first! The colours I chose were from the Dynamic Duo Challenge:

Here's the card I created, which will be going to my FIL for Fathers Day. It's been "hubby approved" so I'm good to go - LOL!

My FIL LOVES boats and builds model sailboats from pictures in his head! Yeah...he's pretty awesome. I know he'll like this card.

I used the tiny tags set and punch in order to add the sentiment. Here's a close up:

I'm still loving that Island Indigo Baker's Twine!

What do you think?

STAMPS: The Open Sea, Tiny Tags

INK: Island Indigo, Read Red

PAPERS: Whisper White and Island Indigo Cardstock; Island Indigo DSP

ACCESSORIES: Punches, Baker's Twine, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

The Open Sea for the Stampin' Queens!

Good morning everyone! Are you done reeling from the retired list that posted on Sunday? Hang on to your pants, because the accessories list posts a week from today - EEK!!!

In last year's summer mini, one of my favourite sets made it's first appearance. I was SO sad when it didn't make it into the Idea Book and Catalogue but THRILLED when we found out it was still available as write-in. YAY!

Today's Stampin' Queen card uses the Open Sea:

And here's the sketch on which it was based:

I just love how quickly it came together! Which, let's be honest, is a GOOD thing considering that when I created it last night, I had already spent the day on an outdoor field trip with 38 grade three students. To say I was EXHAUSTED would be an understatement!

Since this card will be one of those featured in my "Manly Man" card class on May 5th, I wanted it to be fairly simple. I stamped the images in Chocolate Chip on Very Vanilla and then matted them both on Chocolate Chip cardstock. I added two strips of cardstock (one punched) at the bottom of the card, adhered the images and called it DONE! It has the "DH seal of approval", so I think I'm good! LOL!

What do you think?

STAMPS: The Open Sea
INK: Chocolate Chip
PAPERS: Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip Cardstock
ACCESSORIES: Punches, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

Holy Layers Batman! Can you say EXTRA POSTAGE?

This is my second post for today! Scroll down to see what else I've been doing!

When I saw this card by the lovely and talented Ann Schach, I just KNEW I'd have to recreate it! I mean really, how could you not? It's stunning!!!

Well, between the Creativ Festival and Easter, my "The Open Sea" set (123030 Wood - $32.95; 123032 Clear - $22.95), which will be available to order on May 1st when the Summer Mini launches, was left untouched.

Now, the Creativ Festival and Easter are behind us...the kids are hopped up on chocolate and doing their own thing, I decided it was time to create!

Since I don't have ALL the elements Ann used (I'm missing those GORGEOUS grommets - they'll be on my next order!), I had to improvise. I used these Antique Brad (117273 - $7.50) instead. I chose these ones in particular because I thought they looked a lot like a compass - carrying the theme!

I sure hope Ann doesn't mind my shameless CASEing of her card, because these elements are laid out exactly the same on her card.  Why mess with perfection?

Here's the completed card:

It's all in the details:

• Antique Brads - going rustic
• Distressing - a LOT of Early Espresso Ink
• Sponging - the Whisper White on which I stamped my images was a little too stark for my liking so I sponged all over them after I cut them out using my Early Espresso Classic Ink and a sponge
• Layers - oh how I love them!!! IMO, you can NEVER have too many layers on a card - sure, there's extra postage to be paid, but it's worth it
• Baker's Twine - not even available yet (will be May 1st) and I'm already crossing all my parts that it will be carried over into the new Idea Book and Catalog for the 2011-2012 year...LOVE this stuff!

Inside:

I continued sponging on the Whisper White so it wasn't so stark and layered the Whisper White Cardstock on the same piece of DSP that I used in the small panel on the front before adhering it to the inside of the card.

I stamped the Happy Father's Day on the inside as this will be FIL's Father's Day card. When I first saw this set, I just KNEW it would be perfect to create cards for him as he just loves boats and has even made a few rather large replica sail boats himself.

What do you think?

STAMPS: The Open Sea, Teeny Tiny Wishes

INK: Early Espresso, Not Quite Navy

PAPERS: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler and Not Quite Navy Cardstock; Nautical Expedition DSP

ACCESSORIES: Bakers Twine, Antique Brads, Metallic Brads and LOTS of Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!